Confessions of a coupon newbie (and how I scored free shampoo)

This is the pantry of veteran coupon clipper Ashley Givens of Mobile. (Press-Register/G.M. Andrews)

MOBILE, Alabama -- While I’ve been a serious bargain hunter for years, my personal coupon-clipping quest began this winter. I was at home for a few months after the birth of our second child and looking for ways to spend less on everything.

I wanted to know how other people were getting free, or nearly free, stuff using stacks of coupons. Have you priced Pampers lately?

Here are some of the things I’ve done to save money with coupons:

SAVING WITH COUPONS

Where to find coupons

Sunday newspaper

Magazines

Grocery store inserts

Drugstore coupon books

Doctor’s offices

Facebook pages

Online manufacturer websites

Direct mail inserts

Product packaging

Credit card statements

Your email inbox

Online coupon sources:

al.com/shopping

Coupons.com

Couponnetwork.com

Redplum.com

Smartsource.com

Target.com

Thekrazycouponlady.com

FrugalFairhope.com

When the baby slept and the house was quiet, I made virtual friends with theKrazyCouponLady, poring over store coupon policies for retailers such as Target and Walgreens, two local businesses that allow shoppers to “stack,” which means using more than one coupon for the same product.

The KrazyCouponLady site offers an exhaustive list of hundreds of coupons that you can print from home. Months later, I go back to it frequently when I can’t find a paper coupon for something I need.

I signed up for baby and toddler clubs on grocery store websites such as Winn-Dixie and Publix. So far, we’ve gotten three mailers in six months with dozens of coupons on diapers and baby food, milk and meat.

I visited Bargainbuggy.com and read about another local mom who’s been sharing her ideas on saving big with coupons since the summer of 2009. I “friended” Bargainbuggy and the KrazyCouponLady on the social network Facebook.

A major theme among money-saving sites is to learn what stores allow before venturing out with fistfuls of coupons. The websites mentioned above offer information on local store policies. They also suggest printing out the coupon policy for the store where you shop to limit confusion in the checkout line.

During a well-baby visit at our pediatrician’s office, I noticed several shelves with free samples and manufacturer coupons, for as much as $5 off infant formula and $1 off several different diaper ointments.There were also $3 off coupons for fragrance-free clothing detergent.

Now, when I take the baby, or our preschooler, to the doctor, I set my pride aside and ask for coupons. I haven’t been disappointed yet.

Lately, it’s been hard not to brag. Last week, I used three coupons and saved $9 on a $20 box of Pampers Cruisers. Thank you Publix! I used a fourth coupon (that came in the mail) for a free 12-ounce bottle of Pantene shampoo during the same shopping trip. Score and score.